Bus from Mexico City to Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

Chichen Itza's El Castillo is the subject of interest during the Spring and Fall
 Equinox when a shadow in the shape of a serpent appears on the side
of the northeast facing stairway in late afternoon.

First class bus service reaches Chichen Itza ruin site from much of Mexico and the Mexican border and the USA.

• Bus From Mexico City

Chichen Itza is reached by bus from Mexico City through Veracruz or through Oaxaca to Merida.  From Merida, buses reach Cancun, the City of Valladolid  and the ruin site of Chichen Itza.
ADO first class buses provide service to all of Southern Mexico and serve Merida, Valladolid, and Cancun from Mexico City, Oaxaca City, VeraCruz, Villahermosa, and Campeche.

Chichen Itza's Nunnery area, Puuc style buildings similar to those at Uxmal.

• Good, High-Speed Roads 

Modern highways reach Merida from Mexico City and continue on to Chichen Itza from Merida or from Cancun

Buses from ADO first class terminal and from the second class bus station pull into the Chichen Itza entrance parking lot where a short walk takes you to the Chichen Itza ruin entrance.

• Bus from Mexico City 

Direct buses leave for Merida in the Yucatan from Tapo Terminal in Mexico City via ADO, GL Trip duration is 19 hours, the bus fare, 1486 Pesos. Buses leave 11:00 AM.

Chichen Itza shows Toltec influence in later building stages of 

the tenth century

• Veracruz

The City of Jalapa, Veracruz, the City of Heroica Veracruz, (Veracruz, the port city), and the city of Coatzacoalcos will provide terminals and bus ticket sales for onward buses to the Yucatan in case you do not opt for the direct run.
Villahermosa is another bus hub city on the way to Campeche and Merida.

• Merida

Merida is a popular base for ruins trips to Chichen Itza, Uxmal, and other Mayan sites because of its hotels, museums, bus stations, night life, and international airport.  Merida Transportation

Chichen Itza ballcourt is the largest in Mesoamerica.

• Oaxaca City

Oaxaca City can provide through bus service to Merida and Chichen Itza through Villahermosa or through San Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque.

Mayan culture practiced the techniques common in
 Mesoamerica of deforming the skulls of infants  

• Bus Merida to Chichen Itza, First Class From Merida

Merida is  served by  ADO first class buses.  The ADO bus on the bus route to Chichen Itza, a distance of 75 miles, stops first at the town of Piste, a short distance from Chichen Itza.  In Piste there is lodging and camping.  The bus then continues to the Chichen Itza entrance.
ADO Buses make three trips Daily from Merida, 6:30 AM, 9:15 AM, 12:40 PM. as of Jan, 2012.

Chichen Itza shows Toltec influence in later building stages of 

the tenth century, including El Castillo which was built over earlier temples.

• Bus Fare

The fare for the first class ticket from Merida to Chichen Itza is 114 Pesos.  The  ADO first Class Terminal in Merida is four blocks south and four blocks west of the Zocalo,  Parque Francisco Canto.

• Return Bus Tickets

Bus tickets for the return can be purchased in the gift shop area of Chichen Itza.

• Bus to Chichen Itza, Second Class

From Merida, reach Chichen Itza by second class bus from the second class bus station in Merida, just one block east of the first class station.

Merida offers fine old hotels in colonial-era buildings.

• Second Class Bus Fares

The second class bus fare is 45 Pesos.

Buses also reach Chichen Itza from Cancun and from Valladolid.  Collectiv taxis reach from Piste and valladolid.

Chichén Itzá was visited in 1843 by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood.  The site became part of their book “Incidents of Travel in Yucatan.  The ruin site is now one of the modern wonders of the world and a site of much interest because of the December 2012 end of the Mayan calendar cycle.

Chichen Itza's Temple of the Warriors is a Toltec style building
similar to the temple of the Warriors in the Toltec city of Tula

During January and February, I traveled from Oaxaca City to Chichen Itza through San Cristobal de las Casas to Palenque and then to Merida through Villahermosa and Campeche.  The prices and schedules listed are up to date as of January 2012.